Resolution on Bangladesh War Crimes Tribunal for Crimes of 1971

The General Assembly of the International Association of Democratic Lawyers, at its 17th Congress in Hanoi, Vietnam, having received and considered the report of the Democratic Lawyers’ Association of Bangladesh, entitled “Trial of the 1971’s War Crimes in Bangladesh under the International War Crimes (Tribunal) Act, 1973,” resolves as follows:

1. The Government of Bangladesh has the right and obligation, under the International War Crimes (Tribunal) Act, 1973, to investigate and, where appropriate, to prosecute any and all war crimes, including acts of genocide, crimes against humanity, large-scale killings, rapes and acts of arson, committed against the people of Bangladesh during the struggle for independence which culminated in the independence of Bangladesh, proclaimed on 16 December 1971;

2. The International Association of Democratic Lawyers supports the initiative taken by the Democratic Lawyers’ Association of Bangladesh to this end.